Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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452. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will investigate the case of a school (details supplied) that has waited over 130 days for a decision on an SNA review, despite escalating health and safety concerns in an autism class; if she will intervene to ensure appropriate resources are sanctioned without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55002/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised.

As the matter raised relates to a NCSE process. I will arrange for your query to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

Deputies are also welcome to raise such matters with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at: oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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453. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the remit of SNAs in relation to health and safety in special education settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55003/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Special needs assistants (SNAs) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools. They help ensure that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

SNA posts are allocated to schools as a school-based resource. Principals/board of managements deploy SNAs within schools to meet the care support requirements of the children enrolled whom SNA support has been allocated.?This provides schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

My department has been steadily building the level of SNA support in our education system. This school year there will be over 23,000 SNAs allocated to schools, working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. Budget 2026 provides for a further 1,717 SNA posts which will bring the total number of SNA posts to close to 25,000 by the end of 2026.

Of course it is important that a sufficient number of school staff receive adequate training to meet the care needs of students, and adequate cover is in place where staff designated to provide essential care support is absent on any particular day. Resources should also be deployed so that children with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of support in the school.

Where specific training is required, the school can liaise with Enable Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Education Support Centres, at a local level to secure guidance and training to meet the care needs of the student. The school’s special education needs organiser (SENO) is also available to advise on the resources available to assist children with special educational needs including opportunities for targeted training.